By One of the MGP’s great characters, most respected competitors, Kevin ‘Ago’ Murphy is next to take part in Road Racing News rising in popularity, Manx GP Top 6 series.
Tenth within the opening Ultra Lightweight race of 2018, overall seven times a top twenty MGP finisher, his answers to the Mountain Course themed set of questions are as follows:
Q1: When you first competed at the Manx, what was your first initial thought of the Mountain Course?
“Hadn’t attended the TT & MGP for many years and had done 100’s of laps before I even raced there. But the biggest surprise was being able to use the whole road and the speeds attained, it was like learning the course all over again.
On my first practice lap I had Senior MGP runner-up Steve Dowey come past down Baggegarrow on his Yamaha TZ750 and I thought I was going quick, not!”
Q2: Most memorable Manx GP bike?
“It has to be my Bat Motorcycles Honda VFR 400 NC 30, I tagged onto Glen English on his 500 Classic and achieved my first 100 mph lap of the course, I loved that little Bike.
Second 400 home in the lightweight 250 race before it was a stand alone race beaten by John Richards on a fully blown Yamaha FZR400, just makes me smile when I think back to that year 1996 and my first replica.”
Q3: Most treasured memory from the Manx?
“Now that’s a very hard one to be fair, there are so many as I have enjoyed every single lap. One of the stand out moments was racing Tim Carrington’s FZS 600 Fazer (Yamaha) in the Junior MGP in 2012, I smiled all the way from start to finish.”
Photo by Nick Wheeler
Q4: Is there one specific Manx GP competitor that you look up to?
“The late Peter Jarmann a great rider and friend gone but never forgotten, always in my thoughts when I come through St Ninians Crossroads.”
Q5: Describe the Manx GP in one word?
“Champion, as George Shuttleworth would say.”
Q6: Finally, if you could race one machine from any series, championship around the Mountain Course, what would it be?
“Classic Ago’s 350MV-3, modern the Honda RC30 I rode in the TT in 2000, a great bike. The Mountain Course has been part of my life for over 60 years and I have many treasured memories lest we forget those who have lost their lives chasing their dreams around the Mountain Course at both the TT & MGP.”
Words by Stevie Rial
